ERP implementation - Seeing through a lens : A comparative literature review regarding the factors that influence a successful ERP system implementation.

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to describe and analyse the factors that contribute to the successful ERP system implementation, the stakeholders of ERP system and how these stakeholders are related to CSFs of ERP system implementation. Design/ methodology/ approach: The research methodology approach chosen for this research is based on reality and clear research which includes qualitative and quantitative method for collecting and analysing data. Data for this research consists of secondary data, gathered by conducting a critical literature review of research papers published by journals, magazines and books. The content analysis and comparative study methods are used to analyse data. Findings: Seventeen CSFs that are considered to contribute to ERP implementation success have been identified in accordance with their prioritization where twelve of them have been described; by analyzing some widely accepted in prior researches. Three stakeholders of ERP such as “Top management, IT professionals and End-users” have been identified and their involvement in the ERP implementation has been described. The result revealed that several CSFs of ERP such as “user training and involvement, ERP teamwork and selection of ERP are directly related to End-users”. The findings also revealed that Top management are related to majority of CSFs such as “top management support and commitment, change management, business plan and vision, system quality, project management, effective communication plan, selection of ERP, monitoring and focused performance evaluation, project champion, and business and IT infrastructure”. The result from analysis also showed a correlation between IT professionals and several CSFs such as “selection of ERP, system quality, user training and involvement, post-implementation evaluation, business plan and vision, change management, ERP teamwork, effective communication plan, and business and IT infrastructure”.